# NTSB NYC02LA128: Piper PA-16, N5921H, Moneta, VA, July 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2002, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Moneta, VA - Coordinates: 37.107776, -79.592498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1078&lon=-79.5925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Inspector - NTSB case key (mKey): 55110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55110/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55110 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA128 ## Probable cause The loss of a clip and subsequent loss of the spring on the right side of the tail wheel assembly, for undetermined reasons, which led to a loss of directional control. A factor was the berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel - disconnected (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane abruptly veered to the left and departed the runway. The pilot regained directional control after the airplane had swerved about 60 degrees from the runway. In the process of returning to the runway, the right main landing gear struck an earthen berm about 16 inches high, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the tail wheel side spring, between the rudder horn and tailwheel, on the right side of the tail wheel assembly, was disconnected, and the clip which held the spring in place was missing. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2002, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-16, N5921H, was substantially damaged while landing at Smith Mountain Lake Airport (W91), Moneta, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which originated at Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR), Culpeper, Virginia. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated: "...Approach to Smith Mountain Lake was normal. On roll-out aircraft started left hand turn and exited hard surface. Regained control, [airplane] pointed about 60 degrees from centerline. Started turn back to runway when right wheel struck a mount of dirt about 16 inches high. Aircraft went over onto it back. Found right hand link from tailwheel to rudder horn missing." In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot described the left turn as abrupt, with no indication of a problem prior to the turn. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), examination of the airplane revealed that the clip which held the tail wheel spring to the tail wheel on the right side of the tail wheel assembly, was missing, and the spring was disconnected. A search of the runway failed to find the clip. The FAA inspector also reported that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent. The right wing was bent at the fuselage attach point, and the right wing strut was bent. Runway 05 was 3,050 feet long, 50 feet wide, and had an asphalt surface. The closest recorded weather was Roanoke Regional/Woodrum Field Airport (ROA), Roanoke, Virginia, located 23 nautical miles northwest of the accident site. The reported winds at 1154, were variable at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5921H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5921H), registered now, S/N 16-542, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-16 - Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16-542 - Airframe hours: 2188.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 2001, 35.8 hours before - Departed: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Destination: W91, Moneta, VA - Airport: W91, Smith Mountain Lake, runway 5, 3,058 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 3, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 329 total, 31 in this make and model, 329 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 23 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020701018119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020701018119A), Jul 1, 2002: Piper PA16, Moneta, VA, No damage. (-23) Airman reports landing runway 05 in full stall landing. The roll out was initially normal, then the aircraft suddenly veered left and ran off the side of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55110. 293 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.